Indigenous Games: A Stepping Stone for Lifelong Sport Participation

Hundreds of participants celebrated cultural heritage by attending a Provincial Indigenous Games Tournament at the Western Cape Sport School in Kuils River on Monday, 24 September 2012.

The Department of Cultural Affairs partnered with the City of Cape and the Western Province Indigenous Games interim structure to host this tournament. The 450 participants had a fun-filled experience, enjoying the indigenous games, Dibeke, Khokho,Lintonga, Drie-stokkies, Ncuva, Morabaraba, Diketo andKgati.

A team was selected to represent the Metro region at the Provincial Games in November where the six regions of the Western Cape will be competing. Ultimately, a Western Cape team will be selected for a national tournament to be held in September 2013.

The Department believes that it’s important to promote and develop many clubs for the games, which do not require top level fitness and is suitable for mass participation. Mr Manfred Josephs of the Directorate: Sport Development says that the games have a positive impact on the participants, since they acquire the skills necessary for each game.

Mr Andile Dyasi of the Arts and Culture Unit: City of Cape Town, says that the organisers want to revive the fading sporting spirit and culture among the young people and use the Indigenous Games as the mechanismto integrate the diverse region and bring back the culture of ubuntu.

The more serious participants gave their all to win, while others utilised the opportunity to learn more about the games. It is clear that the partnership between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and the City of Cape Town brought people closer to their cultural heritage.